Pending approval by the Illinois State Senate, Bob Flider has been appointed as Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Flider served in the Illinois House from 2003 until he lost his re-election bid in 2010. He served as mayor of Mt Zion from 1995 to 2003.
As a state legislator, the Democrat was a member of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee.
Flider said he will work closely with agriculture and agribusiness leaders to meet Governor Pat Quinn’s goal of doubling Illinois' exports by 2014.
“The Department of Agriculture in conjunction with other agencies in the state will be going out and working with producers to find new markets and market our products, so that we can sell more of them to consumers in foreign countries,” Flider said.
After leaving public office last year, Flider worked for a group that promotes improved broadband service in Illinois’ rural areas. He plans to continue pushing for better access to technology in those communities.
The Illinois Farm Bureau said Flider is the right choice to run the Department of Agriculture.
However, the Illinois Republican Party condemned the appointment. It criticized Flider for voting in favor of last year’s income tax hike.
Flider's new job will pay around $133,000 per year.
Thanks to Illinois Public Radio